The phrase "nursing shortage" has been on the tongues of industry insiders for a very long time now. It's something that seems daunting and scary, because too few nurses means limited healthcare and potential dangers for the whole of our society. But before panic or despair sets in, it's worthwhile to take a closer look at the potential nursing shortage and what it means.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS, is the authority when it comes to job growth, demand for employment, salaries and more. The current projections they have out there is that by 2020 there will be some 800,000 nursing jobs unfulfilled. Another projection shows that there is a need for 580,000 new RNs in the field by 2018. Either way, those definitely speak volumes to a potentially serious nursing shortage.
So the first answer has to be that yes, the nursing shortage is real and it's something that needs to be taken seriously. But where did it come from? For one thing, nurses outnumber physicians in hospitals at about a 41 ratio, which shows how much of the day-to-day tasks they take on, perform and manage. Still, almost 40% of nurses now work outside of hospitals, showing their needs elsewhere. It's a ton of demand on the profession and it has spread nurses out a bit too thin.
The average age of the qualified nurses in the field can also help to explain the looming nursing shortage. The average age is 47 years old, up from 40 years old a few decades ago. This means that more nurses are getting ready to retire, which opens up many jobs and positions, and there is not enough younger people embarking on the career at an entry level.
Still, another reason is that the demand for nurses is going to increase even more in the coming years. The baby boomers are becoming senior citizens, and there will be more need for care at all levels, adding another layer of complexity to the nursing shortage that has been brewing for some time now.
The best way to think about the nursing shortage though is to see it as an opportunity for students that are looking to begin their own careers. Literally hundreds of thousands of jobs will be opening up or becoming creating, and salaries are also on the rise. This is a quickly growing industry, and it's one that will always be needed, and never be outdone by any economic conditions or anything else.
Prospective students looking to get started should be pursuing a BSN degree so they can enter the workforce as fully qualified nurses, holding a respected education. With an online nursing program, programs can be finished in less than a year, and more RNs are pursuing this option. At least 50% of RNs have a BSN or higher today, up from 25% three decades ago, with additional increases expected.
So there certainly is a legitimate nursing shortage in the works. That doesn't mean it's time to panic, but hopefully more students and prospective professionals take notice and begin entering the field. If they do, and they choose to obtain an accelerated BSN, then they could enter the workforce in as little as a year.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS, is the authority when it comes to job growth, demand for employment, salaries and more. The current projections they have out there is that by 2020 there will be some 800,000 nursing jobs unfulfilled. Another projection shows that there is a need for 580,000 new RNs in the field by 2018. Either way, those definitely speak volumes to a potentially serious nursing shortage.
So the first answer has to be that yes, the nursing shortage is real and it's something that needs to be taken seriously. But where did it come from? For one thing, nurses outnumber physicians in hospitals at about a 41 ratio, which shows how much of the day-to-day tasks they take on, perform and manage. Still, almost 40% of nurses now work outside of hospitals, showing their needs elsewhere. It's a ton of demand on the profession and it has spread nurses out a bit too thin.
The average age of the qualified nurses in the field can also help to explain the looming nursing shortage. The average age is 47 years old, up from 40 years old a few decades ago. This means that more nurses are getting ready to retire, which opens up many jobs and positions, and there is not enough younger people embarking on the career at an entry level.
Still, another reason is that the demand for nurses is going to increase even more in the coming years. The baby boomers are becoming senior citizens, and there will be more need for care at all levels, adding another layer of complexity to the nursing shortage that has been brewing for some time now.
The best way to think about the nursing shortage though is to see it as an opportunity for students that are looking to begin their own careers. Literally hundreds of thousands of jobs will be opening up or becoming creating, and salaries are also on the rise. This is a quickly growing industry, and it's one that will always be needed, and never be outdone by any economic conditions or anything else.
Prospective students looking to get started should be pursuing a BSN degree so they can enter the workforce as fully qualified nurses, holding a respected education. With an online nursing program, programs can be finished in less than a year, and more RNs are pursuing this option. At least 50% of RNs have a BSN or higher today, up from 25% three decades ago, with additional increases expected.
So there certainly is a legitimate nursing shortage in the works. That doesn't mean it's time to panic, but hopefully more students and prospective professionals take notice and begin entering the field. If they do, and they choose to obtain an accelerated BSN, then they could enter the workforce in as little as a year.
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Accelerated BSN Nursing Programs The advent of the internet has changed the way people are being educated. Dont throw time and money away. There is a critical shortage of nurses.